Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Recognition of Press C0rrespOn.
dents by the President at OH
ciai Receptions.
The Interstate Commerce Commission.
Its Important Work-WhOm Will
the President Appoint?
Correspondence of the Gazette.


WASHINGTON, Feb. l5.-All predictions
as to the makeup of the Interstate com
merce commission which must be
appointed within sixty days from the
passage of the act, are, of course, en-
tirely speculative, but the popular inter
est manifested in the matter is an indi-
cation of the public appreciation of the
importance of making the best possible
selections for these positions. The
character and capacity of the men 10 be
selected will determine in a great degree
the wisdom of Congress in enacting this
legislation. As yet, no one seems to be
able to tell what the law means, and first
of all it must be construed. The com
mission, to interpret it, therefore, should
be one whose Judgment of The law will go
far to make it stand the test
of judicial review. The board is
to have large powers, and the salaries are
large, Judged by the government stand
ard.
1t is no wonder that pressure is being
brought to bear upon the President in be-
half of a certain class Of politicians, who,
because of lack of confidence in them
| by their constituents, like Othello, find
their occupation gone. 1t IS worthy of
remark also that it is possible for this
commission, WELDING the vast powers
entrusted to them by law, to become an
| importan political factor, although it is
| supposed to be non-parJisan under the
law. Yet it may exercise great power in
determining elections. Its decisions will
| be watched with vigilant eye by the
labor class, whose relations are close to
railway corporations, and who will be
swayed according 10 the way the ruling
of the commission affects their interests.
The character of the Presidents appoint
ments will be scanned more closely than
any he has made since the selec-
ton of his Cabinet. Will he discard
the political hacks who are being pressed
upon him and select the five best availa-
bic men. The country is anXiously await
ing his decision, and meanwhile looks to
their Chief Magistrate to do what seems
to him for the best interests of the COM
mon veal.
President Cleveland is the first presi-
dent to recognize the press correspon-
dents here socially at the official reCep-
lions in the White House. Individual
members have been admitted privately,
as if it was favor that should not tie
publicly mentioned. Now all this is
changed, and President Cleveland has
given the representatives of the press a
definite social status by the side of Sens
tors and representatives, and the staff
corps Of the general Of the army VINO
wear the gilded cords Of the armies of
our continent.
The Whitney baby, after Secretary
Lamar's wife, is the latest acquisition to
the Cabinet circle, and this recalls the
Cabinet babies of the past Cabinet ba-
bies are by no means frequent. There
have been but five during the past twenty
five years. They were all girls. Miss
Mary McCulloCn was born when her father
was Secretary of the Treasury. About
7 this time the daughter Of Postmaster Gen
eral Dennlson was born. In General
! Grants Cabinet there were two, the
daughter Of Secretary Belknap and the
daughter of Secretary RJbeson. Miss
McCulloch is now in Washington, and is
a great favorite here. She is a tall, fair
blonde, and is seen everywhere in Official
life. Miss Rooeson is yet school
| girl of fifteen years, also q
blonde. She Is very pretty, and
promises to become beautiful woman.
The "Whitney" baby is the third Gaugh
ter of Secretary Whitney, the second, a.
girl OF eight years. having died abroad!
The eldest, Pauline, is now girl Of fonr-
teen, and there are two sonsIone aeider
! and the other younger than Pauline. The
family are delighted to have another girl.
The grandparents, Senator and Mrs
Payne, are also rejoiced that 1t is a girl.
Under canopy of blue silk and oriental
lace, in g basket cradle swung between
two uprights of bamboo, Secretary Whit
ney's baby received a pretty baby car
rage, with the following message, from
the White House: "For Baby Whitney,
with much love; from her friend, Mrs,
Cleveland, January n, 1887"